Method for timing a sports competition in different sites

Abstract

A timing method for a sports competition at the same time on different sites (4) around the world. In a first phase, all time bases of the timing devices, of a start coordinator device (3) and of each site are synchronised. Next, a measurement of the transmission times between the start coordinator device and each site is performed to determine a maximum transmission time. The start coordinator device establishes a start time equal to the time of the date of each site and while adding a time difference longer than the determined maximum transmission time. The start time is adapted to each site where the competition takes place to automatically order, by each timing device, the start of the competition at the same time on each site and on the base site of the start coordinator device to have a sports competition taking place live on all competition sites.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is claiming priority based on European Patent Application No. 20183895.0 filed on Jul. 3, 2020, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirely by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The invention relates to a method for timing a sports competition with participants on different sites. Preferably, the sites are far enough from each other and scattered around the world.[0003]The invention also relates to a timing system for the implementation of the timing method.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0004]In general, international sports competitions imply performing different trips and crowd meetings. There is now a tendency to organize off-site events with athletes and spectators scattered around the world. In order to preserve the competition spirit, the athletes must compete against each other in real-time as if they were in the same stadium.[0005]However, the management of such competitions on different sites g...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]An advantage of the timing method lies in that it consists of a new competition format taking place at the same time on different sites around the world. The variable transmission times between the different sites have to be taken into account in order to have all sites properly receiving the start time. According to the timing method, the participants or competitors are ready to run on the orders of the same starter judge for all sites. For this purpose and before the start, there is mainly a measurement of this transmission time between the start coordinator device, and each site of the sports competition. A synchronisation of the time base of each site and of the start coordinator device is performed through a transmission of GNSS or GPS signals. Each site sends its time to the start coordinator device, for example every second. The latter notes the reception time with respect to its clock and can therefore calculate the return transmission time. The same operation is performed in the other way to calculate the forward transmission time. Thus, a maximum transmission time to be taken into account to validate each start in total safety is determined. Preferably, it is possible to take into account the double of the maximum forward transmission time from the start coordinator device to each site plus the maximum return transmission time to obtain a processing time safety. Once the time of each site has been accurately synchronised, there will always be super-accurate starts once the start is given for each site, because the race time does not change according to the local time. The different local times of the different sites which may be disposed throughout the world are known so as to perform a race

Problems solved by technology

However, the management of such competitions on different sites gives rise to the problem of accuracy and validity of the time of each participant once the finish line is crossed.

The same race start for each participant on the different sites cannot guarantee the accuracy of the time of each participant, because the time bases of the different chronometers are not necessarily calibrated or synchro

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